Beloved Pet Snake Causes Stepfamily Tension, But One Teen Is Refusing To Give Up Her Slithery Friend No Matter What

This is the kind of family drama that starts over something small, then explodes the second it moves into the house. A 15-year-old girl named OP is deeply attached to her ball python, Frederick, and she is not backing down. She’s paid for his care herself, loves him like family, and treats him like the one thing in her life that feels steady.

But when OP’s mom gets engaged, everything changes. The stepdad-to-be and his kids are moving in, and their reaction to Frederick is immediate: they are scared of him and refuse to have him around, especially her 11-year-old stepbrother who won’t share a room if Frederick is there. OP has already been told to move Frederick into her room, then later offered money and a replacement pet, and she refused every time.

Now it’s a full-on household standoff, and the family dinner plan is basically “snake or siblings,” no middle ground.

The step-siblings are scared of Frederick and don’t want him in the house.

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Original Post

throwaway I am 15, and I have a ball python. His name is Frederick. My grandparents got him for me a year ago and paid for everything I needed to get started, but since then I have paid for everything he needs with my own money. I am not exaggerating when I say that I love my snake and consider him part of my family.

My mom recently got engaged, and my stepdad-to-be has kids. They are all nice, and we normally get along very well, but we have started to have an issue. They are scared of/just don't like Frederick. He is really nice and would never hurt anyone and even looks cute, they just don't like him since he's a snake.When they started coming over a lot, I was just told to move his enclosure into my room. However, now that our parents got engaged, they are going to be moving in with us. My stepbrother is going to be sharing a room with me. He is 11. However, he doesn't want to be in the room if Frederick is in there.Our house isn't big enough for him to get his own room, his sisters are going to be sharing a room with my sister, my parents have their room, and then we have an office. I offered to move Frederick out of my room again, but that won't work for the other kids. My mom has told me I might just have to let go so that everyone can be happy, but I have refused. I do not, under any circumstances, want to lose him.My mom said I could get a new snake once I'm old enough to move out and it would only be a few years. Both my stepdad and my mom have offered me money and other stuff to get rid of him or that we could get a different pet, but I have refused to accept that.I don't want to sound spoiled or anything, but I want Frederick and only Frederick. I feel that if my stepsiblings just gave it a chance and actually tried to get to know him even a little bit, they would be able to live with him, but they just won't.They have decided to not like him and won't let me try to change their minds. I know that they will have to live with us somehow, and this will have to be resolved. I asked other family and my friends, and people are split. So please, am I in the wrong for refusing to budge on this? Edit: I can't sleep so I will talk to my parents in the morning.It's only been an hour, but you guys already have me seriously considering asking about moving in with my grandparents for the time being, probably just until they can get a bigger house. I will also ask them about just moving someone into the office or keeping Frederick in there, however since his even being in the house is an issue this might not work. If I do move him to my grandparents' house, I would rather be with him. Thanks for all the support you guys have given me, I really appreciate it.

Here’s how the Reddit community reacted.

Tony_Shine5828

“Can you keep him in the office?”

Auroraburst

“Giving away a pet is an unreasonable request.”

CajunKC

“Keep your pet.”

Myorangecrush77

Your mom apparently doesn’t care about your happiness.

Barelyaberry

“Keep standing up for yourself.”

Bella a

This is the same kind of fallout as the $300 blazer “accident” that blew up her decade-long friendship.

“I can see both sides.”

Apgamerwolf

“That’s your baby.”

DarthGayAgenda

NTA.

Jovet_Hunter

Pets are irreplaceable.

carton_of_cats

He’s a pet, not an object you can replace.

NightOwlEye

You’ve known Frederick longer than you’ve known your step-siblings.

CyclonicHavoc

“Don’t budge.”

crimvel

“What about your happiness?”

ayymahi

OP had Frederick in her room for a while, but once the engagement turned into moving plans, her stepbrother’s fear became non-negotiable.

The mom-to-be basically offered “get rid of him and everyone can be happy,” while OP answered with a hard no and kept paying for Frederick anyway.

Even with the house layout locked in, OP’s suggestion to move Frederick out again only worked for her, not for the rest of the kids who were suddenly refusing to compromise.

That’s when the pressure ramped up, with her parents dangling money and a different pet, and OP still insisting it has to be Frederick or nothing.

No matter what happens, the Redditor is standing firm—because some bonds, even the slithery ones, aren’t up for negotiation. Frederick isn’t just a pet; he’s family, and she’s not giving him up anytime soon.

Either Frederick stays, or this family is about to split over a snake that never did anything wrong.

Still dealing with family finance fights, see why she refused to repay her boyfriend over his nephew’s theft.